LEADERBOARD to contest the time honoured THACKERAY Steeples at Warrnambool Sunday 7th July – John to attend

Te Rapa – Saturday

RAGAMUFFIN contests the R75 1400m event – Race 7 @ 2.37pm with Courtney Barnes to ride from Barrier 2 – brave when running 2nd at Trentham under 59.5kgs last time, he is up in grade here and will only have to carry 55.5kgs – racing in great form and if he copes with the class rise, is a genuine each way contender – TAB says “Solid prospect with a similar effort to last time” – showing $5/$1.85

LEADERBOARD races in the time honoured Thackeray Steeplechase for A$100k at the iconic ‘Bool racecourse – Race 6 @ 3.20pm Aus time (5.20pm NZT) – Aaron Kuru has taken to the jumping game with great authority with a dominant last start win this track two weeks ago at his first attempt at the big fences – two starts, two wins this track, drops 6kgs in weight, but meets a much stronger field – can make it three from three – TAB says “Looks a strong winning hope” – showing $3.10/$1.40  and favourite

Singapore – Sunday

RHETT BUTLER races in the Class 5 1200m Turf event – Race 1@ 12.30pm Sing time (4.30pm NZT) with Apprentice Darren Danis claiming 1kgs to ride from barrier 3. After some indifferent form in recent starts, he was much better last time this grade and trip for a 3rd placing – will get a soft run here from the draw and big improvement expected. TAB says “Has to find improvement”  – No odds posted yet

Tuesday 2nd July
Porcia Catonis (D Miller) worked over an easy 800 metres in 56.5, home in 40.1

Saturday 29th June

RHETT BUTLER (JAMIL) 800/600-38; ROCKY (ASLAM)800/600-40;

Tuesday 2nd July

ELLIOT NESS (YUSOFF)600-39;

LEADERBOARD to contest the time honoured THACKERAY Steeples at Warrnambool Sunday 7th July – John to attend

There is a lot of excitement and anticipation in the Leaderboard camp with its up and coming star jumper returning to the famous Warrnambool racetrack where he has raced twice before, for a dominant win in a maiden hurdles event April 30th and two weeks ago in the BM120 Steeplechase where he was dominant again at his first attempt over the big fences. The former Wellington Cup winner has always shown an aptitude for jumping, having been schooled on a regular basis over the hurdles when based at Matamata and has taken to the discipline with real gusto since traveling to Victoria, where he is based at the Te Akau base at Cranbourne. Four starts over the jumps in Victoria have yielded two wins and two seconds.

John says “It is no real surprise that “Tiger” has taken to the jumping game. He has always showing a bit of affinity for it, is bred to stay all day and has a great jumping action – full credit to Mark Walker who has been with him at Cranbourne for the last four weeks – Mark has really got to know Leaderboard very well over the past couple of years, has planned his jumping program in Victoria to the minute and we are looking forward to this week’s race where he steps up in grade but also drops 6kg in weight. I will be there on the day and with school holidays on, will be accompanied by my two boys, James, 13 and Joshua, 9.”

Safely through this week’s assignment, Leaderboard has an ambitious ongoing program mapped out with the Grand National Hurdles at Sandown for A$350k on 4th August and then three weeks later the Grand National Steeples at Ballarat also for A$350k